E34L's just came in!!!

[turmoil]

first, Merry Christmas to all!!

second, i just got my E34L's for my triple rectifier and i want to replace them immediatly to try them out.

i just want to make sure i'm swapping them out correctly. The power tubes are paired like this: (correct?)

1 and 6
2 and 5
3 and 4

is that correct?

also, the preamp tube for the phase inverter is V5 correct?
thanks!

 

[oyster]

On the Roadster it is (only 4 power tubes)
1 and 4
2 and 3

so I am sure you are correct in your pairing.

 

[Platypus]

You are correct on all accounts.

 

[turmoil]

sounds great!! thanks guys!!

 

[turmoil]

so i just got them in and i really, really enjoy the way they sound on all the channels!!

i just have 2 questions.

1) when i put them in and turned on my amp, i played it for a few minutes and started to smell something burning. it seems like the smell sort of went away so maybe it was just getting used to the tubes? is that normal??
***i did flip the switch in the back from 6l6 to EL-34...i still had trouble getting the tape off though

2) when i turn the amp on now i get this quick crunch sound...it never did that before when i used 6l6 tubes. maybe it'll go away? i don't know. what do you guys think?

and just so everyone knows, i got the EL-34L sextet for my Triple Recto with the high gain JJ preamp tube combo.

 

[Platypus]

The smell is normal, new tubes always smell a bit, this will go away.. as far as the crunch sound.. not sure, doesn't sound bad though.

 

[turmoil]

well that's good about the smell then. these tubes sound so good!!! i really like the preamp tubes too. i'm thinking about giving it some time then swapping out my tun sol for the V1 spot.

the crunch sound doesn't carry over, it's just like a quick noise when i flip the amp on from standby...i just don't like hearing it that's all. but hopefully it's nothing serious

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

^Same problem I have had with JJ tubes that worries me....when power on, they seem unstable...making odd noises and flickering a bit....never actually died on me, but always worried me

 

[turmoil]

yeah it definetly worried me a lot.
did you get your tubes from Eurotubes? if so, did you ever email Bob about it?

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

Yeah....I got them from Bob....

I had some trouble with the E-34Ls....in my first quad, a pair of them fried....

I contacted Bob, telling him the tubes were faulty, and he insisted it was my fault....

I gave up fighting with him, and ordered another quad...

It worked, but was noisy like I described....I didn't feel like talking to him again, cause I knew he'd just blame it on me not putting the tubes in right :?

 

[Platypus]

Strange, this isn't the first time I've heard of Bob doing this.. the only time I ever had a problem he sent me a new rectifier tube immediately and didn't even want the old one back.

Either way, I love the JJEL34L, such a great tube.

 

[Mick]

Not to hijack the thread but Bob at Eurotubes acts like he's the only person in the world qualified to remove and insert a tube without causing damage. I had two transactions with him, my 1st and last.

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

^ I know what you mean....

My next business will be with Doug....never going back to eurotubes.

 

[turmoil]

i've delt with eurotubes 3 times now and i have never had a problem. i emailed them and they responded to my question immediately...granted it was Jay answering my email and not Bob so that could explain it.

 

[jackieTHEjokeman]

Try Groove Tubes

 

[Micah]

I actually put a sextet of E34Ls from Euro Tubes in my triple about 2-3 weeks ago and I love them as well. I think they sound more"Alive" than the Phillips USA made 7581's(Military Grade 6L6GC's). I like how they seem to want to "go" more than the 7581's did and the squish down earlier while sliding off harmonics richer and easier than the 7581's did. They seem allot tighter and punchier. Another thing that I bought and really improved my tone (2 weeks later--Merry Christmas to me!)was a THD 8 ohm hot plate. I now am able to crank my power section up to about 1 oclock(thats where I like it the best) and still play @ apartment worthy levels. It really allows my amp to sing and the sustain is incredible. Ive since moved to the Vintage mode in channel 2 because it seems to be made for cranking the master. Glad to hear you like them also! :wink:

On the Euro Tubes side of things.... I have nothing but good things to say about them. Bob was extreamly helpfull to me and explained everything I wanted to know and more about how these tubes would affect the tone of my amp and then got them to me fast as well--no complaints!

 

[TheRazMeister]

+1 on that...Bob refused to believe there was anything wrong with his tubes and asked me to mix and match with 6L6's until I found the bad tube (if there indeed was one). My E34L's lasted all of 1 month...what a bargain! BTW - I put Mesa 454's in and it's been 6 months or more with no noise or problems.

Yeah....I got them from Bob....

I had some trouble with the E-34Ls....in my first quad, a pair of them fried....

I contacted Bob, telling him the tubes were faulty, and he insisted it was my fault....

I gave up fighting with him, and ordered another quad...

It worked, but was noisy like I described....I didn't feel like talking to him again, cause I knew he'd just blame it on me not putting the tubes in right :?

 

[Guitarzan]

Try Groove Tubes

Good call Jackie...

Guys... GT sells the Jj EL-34L's as well. They are labeled EL-34L-S. Just use a rating of 4-7 you'll be ok and you won't void your warranty with Mesa.

 

[David.W]

Guitarzan is there some kind of a chart you use for referencing different tubes. Something similar to Mesa's chart but expanded to include all available variations of tubes??

 

[Guitarzan]

Guitarzan is there some kind of a chart you use for referencing different tubes. Something similar to Mesa's chart but expanded to include all available variations of tubes??

No, sorry. It's all been research for me. Read Groove Tubes web page, Vacuum Tube Valley, The Tube Store, Eurotubes. You'll get a pretty good idea. Chime in folks If you have other resources.